'Really upsetting' ITV axe will devastate show that's been on for 26 years

Metro

2 days ago

Loose Women appears set to lose its studio audience (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Loose Women stars are reportedly concerned about the impact of another major change to the show.
The ITV programme – which first aired in 1999 – is already looking at a reduced schedule to just 30 weeks a year, with sweeping changes to the channel's daytime TV output.
Now, it's said the shorter run will also be taking place without a studio audience.
A source told Metro: 'While there is a proposal to not have a studio audience for Loose Women from 2026, that doesn't necessarily mean that we'll never have a studio audience again, it just won't be in the same way as it is now.
'At this stage we are still exploring new ways of working and producing the show when we move to a new studio next year.'
Meanwhile, MailOnline has reported that 'the panelists are really upset over the decision to axe the live studio audience from the show'.
The live audience is believed to be a key part of the show's appeal (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Loose Women is facing some major changes (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
'It's what sets the series apart from the rest of ITV daytime and now there are massive fears that viewers will switch off completely,' the insider added.
'The only concern now is to cut costs and having a live studio audience can be expensive, with the added need for security and a warmup artist.'
Loose Women cutback leave a bad taste in my mouth
After the reports, Metro's deputy tv editor Tom Percival gives his thoughts on the Loose Women changes and the state of television…
I'm not a huge fan of Loose Women, nor am I a die-hard morning TV viewer. Yet I must admit the recent news of cutbacks and changes to ITV's morning schedule has left a bad taste in my mouth – like a noxious combination of toothpaste and orange juice.
I just can't shake the feeling that this is the thin edge of the wedge, a wedge that poses an existential crisis to what I believe is one of the UK's most important exports. No, not Loose Women, but television
Everywhere you turn in the industry right now, it feels like things are breaking down, getting worse, and just becoming a bit rubbish.
Look at a show like Doctorr Who, previously the BBC's golden child. Now, if rumours are to be believed, the Beeb are struggling to finance it. ITV meanwhile is rumoured to bemaking cutbacks at TV stalwart Corrie to save cash, and just last year, Channel 4 laid off 200 members of staff.
It stinks and demonstrates how little we value our creative industries here in the UK. For years, TV (and movies) have allowed the UK to punch well above our weight in the pop-culture boxing ring and played an important part of the UK economy.
It's heartbreaking then to see one of the UK's most vibrant industries fall to rack and ruin. So while Loose Women losing its live audience might not seem important to those who don't watch it, you may regret that when it's your favorite show on the chopping block.
Viewers and presenters – including the likes of Ruth Langsford, Kaye Adams, Nadia Sawalha and Charlene White – already got a taste of empty studio shows during the pandemic.
According to the insider, the feel is that having no studio audience 'creates low mood and lack of atmosphere'.
Panelist Kaye Adams recently opened up about the cuts, which she said came 'out of the blue'.
Some panelists are said to be 'upset' by the change (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
The show will also only air for 30 weeks a year from 2026 (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
She said on her How To Be 60 podcast: 'I didn't anticipate it, which is probably stupid in retrospect. You get into a sort of rhythm of life.
'I had a couple of sleepless nights I have to say, because it's just like the rug's been pulled from under your feet – what has been familiar.'
When Loose Women moves to its 'seasonal' schedule, Lorraine will do the same, while also seeing its run time cut in half.
Currently the show airs from 9am to 10am, but from January 2026 its start time will change to 9:30am.
ITV's daytime shows are getting an overhaul (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Lorraine's runtime is being halved as well as a reduced schedule (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Instead, GMB will run from 6am to 9:30am – and it'll be extended another 30 minutes when Lorraine isn't on air.
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV's Media and Entertainment Division, said in a statement last month: 'I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off-screen in our Daytime production teams, and we will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition.
'Daytime has been a core element of ITV's schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award-winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.'
Metro has contacted ITV for comment.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV1.
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